ECN Forum Forums Technical Discussion Re: Computers and the Internet What Software do you Run?

Glenn,

I've been using McAfee VirusScan for years, but have had some problems with it. Some were pretty quirky.

With one version, (5.xx I think) my computer was actually losing Time, sometimes almost an hour a day. (I think the clock would revert to the correct time when I restarted). I found some documentation on the problem and it was resolved when I installed a newer version.

With ver 6 I've had some problems with the automatic updater (I think it's fixed now) and now the Firewall, but that might be a configuration problem on my part, I don't know yet.

Bill

[This message has been edited by Bill Addiss (edited 05-29-2003).]

Bill,
I use Norton Anti-virus 2002 and also
Symantec Automatic Live Update, can't be too careful these days.
I can't say I've had any problems with Norton A/V software, but this Windows XP Professional version is a nightmare if you ever have any problems with it and I've had a few of them!.

Trumpy,

I've got XP on the new Dell machine, and I'm not real fond of it. Maybe because it's a bit different from what I'm used to, I don't know. The kids seem to like it, but we've already found several programs that just don't work right on it.

Bill

I used to use Quarterdeck's "Cleansweep" for uninstall utility, but it had it's share of difficulties and peculararities (sp??). Got it tweeked good using version 3.xxx, but the next version was just too annoying that I dropped the utility all together.

Ended up getting a couple good tech manuals about Uninstalling Windows Applications, and just do manual removals once in a great while.
After many re-configs and using software packages, I finally learned what not to install on my serious machines
Same cannot be said for friends, family and clients!!! That's when it's time to try manual uninstalls or use the applications uninstall utility (which is like a russian roulette scenario!).

As for Virus utilities, they are just too much of a headache for me!
The last time I used one was on my mother's machine.
A WORM had been picked up from some silly internet site (I will keep the story short by just mentioning it was brought in from a site which my young neice and her friends were browsing... totally G rated site, but fooled them into a download and execution to do "something cool").
This WORM was extremely annoying! It constantly tried to ping and probe the LAN, but all other workstations used Windows 95! It sat on the only Win 98 SER1 machine, trying to collect more account info.
Eventually, it launched up a MODEM connection, and tried desperately to send data to the hacker. Only thing preventing this was the phone line had been used for a voice call at the same time, so in the middle of the conversation my mother heard the dialer kicking out tones, then the "Calling Tone" of the MODEM (the short beep cadence).

She quickly got annoyed with this noise, and goes on a search for me - to see what i am doing to cause all this noise!

I could not get the MODEM to turn off and stay off - no matter what I did! So I run the virus scanner in "Max Mode".

End result - the WORM kept a replication app in the root directory, and the virus scanner invoked a "Domino Effect" of rampant replications plus executions, bringing the machine to the ever famous and very uncool "Black Screen Of Death"! (The one with the fatal text of: Windows Protection Error - Reinstall Windows).

That was the last straw for me and virus scanners!
They are annoying, resource taxing, and in some cases, downright nasty!

I lower my risk of virus trouble by staying away from any site that "pushes" a downloadable executable on visitors, along with not opening attachments from unknown sources, killing chain letters ASAP, viewing incoming E-mail in a "minimized view" (not opening the message, only viewing the sender's info), and including file sizes on attached items I send out to others (so if something ends up larger or smaller than what I sent a person, they can dump the message and alert me).
Not that this is the best for everyone, just my preference!

BTW, I have received many messages of 130 KB + size, with the name "Subscribe ECN" as the sender, which I am sure are from bad sources. Anyone else getting these?
If so, do not open the message!!! It probably is some disgruntled ex-member or random hacker trying to push a time bomb or WORM on us!
These come into my inbox, but "good messages" from ECN or certain members are filtered into proper boxes - and they contain a much more descriptive subject heading, as opposed to the normal "Your Subscription" text of the suspect messages.

Also had some using names of Mike Holt, IAEI and NFPA.

If someone wants to quaranteen (sp???) one of these messages, then forward it to the FBI, that would be great!

Scott35

I don't use any anti-virus software either and pretty much follow the same step as you Scott.

It's possible to set different security levels for certain websites, e.g. set cookies, Java etc. enabled for ECN & other trusted sites while not allowing anything beyond basic HTML to run while "browsing" the unknowns.

Paul,


I thought you would do the same! Great Nerds think alike

I put that Virus utility on my Mother's machine, just to keep an eye on things - but should have gone with experience and not installed any virus checking utility... (hindsight = > 20/20 ... :eek

My wife and I share household with parents (2 houses on same property), so they have their own machine and telephone line(s), and we have our machines + telephone lines. Ethernet (100 BTX) connects them with us, but I play administ. + end user support for all machines here (and many other places!!! :eek .

On the fun side of things, the company I work for is thinking of going with some type of DSL service (most likely ADSL), possibly T1 service if price is right and can be justified. That would be a real nice thing, considering everyone currently shares the same telephone line for Analog dial in access!
No Comm server - just "First Come, First Served", with lots of drops from knocking each other off line! (also they use AOL, and it's becoming an extreme pain in the butt for me!).

Scott35